"DarkSide" collaboration meeting
DEIB - Conference Room
from January 25th at 2.00 pm to January 29th at 1.00 pm, 2016
Contact:
Franco ZAPPA
Research Line:
Single-photon detectors and applications
from January 25th at 2.00 pm to January 29th at 1.00 pm, 2016
Contact:
Franco ZAPPA
Research Line:
Single-photon detectors and applications
Abstract
As-yet-undiscovered Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), formed in the early universe, constitute the non-luminous “dark matter” halo pervading the universe, by orders of magnitude heavier than known matter. Its discovery is of fundamental importance to cosmology, astrophysics, and elementary particle physics.
“DarkSide” is developing two-phase liquid argon Ar time projection chambers, which detect scintillation light and ionization generated by recoiling nuclei.
The present DarkSide-50 detector, employing 150 kg liquid argon active mass and cryogenic photomultipliers, is installed at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, at the center of two nested veto detectors, a 30 ton liquid scintillator neutron veto and a 1,000 ton water Cherenkov muon veto. Thanks to the low-radioactivity Ar extracted underground (instead of from the athmosphere), in Oct. 2015 DarkSide-50 produced the most sensitive WIMP search using a liquid argon target.
Next generation DarkSide-20k detector will employ a 20 ton depleted argon detector, fully covered by microelectronic solid-state single photon Silicon detectors to be operated at 87 K. This will be followed by the "Argo" project which will use a dark matter detector using 300 tons of ultra pure Argon.
Both programs are made possible by significant investments by MIUR and INFN in the procurement of underground argon (“Urania” Project) and isotopic rejection (“Aria”).
“DarkSide” is developing two-phase liquid argon Ar time projection chambers, which detect scintillation light and ionization generated by recoiling nuclei.
The present DarkSide-50 detector, employing 150 kg liquid argon active mass and cryogenic photomultipliers, is installed at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso, at the center of two nested veto detectors, a 30 ton liquid scintillator neutron veto and a 1,000 ton water Cherenkov muon veto. Thanks to the low-radioactivity Ar extracted underground (instead of from the athmosphere), in Oct. 2015 DarkSide-50 produced the most sensitive WIMP search using a liquid argon target.
Next generation DarkSide-20k detector will employ a 20 ton depleted argon detector, fully covered by microelectronic solid-state single photon Silicon detectors to be operated at 87 K. This will be followed by the "Argo" project which will use a dark matter detector using 300 tons of ultra pure Argon.
Both programs are made possible by significant investments by MIUR and INFN in the procurement of underground argon (“Urania” Project) and isotopic rejection (“Aria”).